During the Jubilee celebration, Father François Bouchard, a vicar from Mâcon, France, presented Pope Leo XIV with a contemporary reproduction of "The Calling of Saint Matthew," originally painted by the renowned Italian master Caravaggio. The reproduction was created and signed by French artist Bruno Desroche, making it a unique artistic tribute to one of art history's most celebrated works.
The papal audience became even more memorable when the Pope himself added his signature to the artwork, creating what Father Bouchard described as "an immense gift." This extraordinary gesture transformed the already significant piece into a doubly blessed artwork, bearing both the artist's original signature and the papal endorsement.
For the young priest, this encounter represented an unforgettable moment in his early ecclesiastical career. The meeting highlighted the continuing relationship between religious faith and artistic expression, as well as the Catholic Church's ongoing appreciation for religious art and its contemporary interpretations.
The original "Calling of Saint Matthew" by Caravaggio remains one of the most important religious paintings in art history, depicting the biblical moment when Jesus calls the tax collector Matthew to follow him. Desroche's contemporary reproduction pays homage to this masterpiece while bringing it into dialogue with modern artistic sensibilities.
